RVs get snapped up pretty quickly in the SFO/RNO area...there may be some still available in Las Vegas/LA/Seattle/Portland, but picking up one there would require a change in airline plans.

That said, a week on the playa is survivable without an RV. Granted, an RV solves a lot of logistics issues, but more than half the denizens of Black Rock City make do with tents and associated camping equipment...even a semblance of cleanliness can be maintained with spray bottle showers and baby wipes.

I take an RV, but we use it only for the meal prep. Besides NEVER using the RV toilets (we use the BRC porta potties), we all sleep in tents outside for gear storage and privacy...7-8 people sleeping/peeing/pooping inside is pure chaos.

Good luck on your search!

Don't bore your friends with all your troubles. Tell your enemies instead, for they will delight in hearing about them.

I have no clue, but I've heard feedback on here and other places that a lot of the convenient locations are already all booked for both RVs and cargo trucks. As stated above, you'll likely need to get one in an alternate city

For cultural context, Labor Day Weekend is the last three-day weekend of summer, and even without the burn, the RV supply is going to be thin. There's a reason why some people make their reservations when they get back from the burn, or as soon as that week is available for reservation. Work on a fallback that doesn't involve an RV--you may not need it.

The Lady with a Lamprey

"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri

As has been touched on above - a "7 or 8 person" RV doesn't really hold that many. We took an "8 person" RV one year & had 7 of us, and we were ready to kill 3 of them by the end of the week (luckily the friendship survived). Subtract 2 or 3 people from what the RV company tells you it will hold - some of the "beds" are child sized, some are barely shoulder width (the "convertible couch"). I've used an RV every year - we rent a 5 person RV, 3 of us use it, and we know each-others habits & personalities really well at this point.

Rent the big RV, get tents for at least half the people to sleep in (maybe rotate for fairness?)

Like dragonpilot said - do not use the RV toilet! Just don't. The exception for us (only 3 people, remember) is that we allow ourselves it's use for "night pee" starting around Thursday. That has been survivable, but even that can start to get a little smelly by Monday.

It's a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world - Cryptofishist

You "might" find a camper van or even a cargo van is available somewhere (but I'd get on that really quick).

We have 11 in our little camp - all from overseas. It is doable without an RV it really is.

We are constructing a shade structure for a couple of tents with the cargo van (which will only sleep two of us) as one side. We figure we can easily get two tents in that shade structure (you could even probably fit in more).

So if it all goes bad consider just getting something that is big enough to haul out some shade gear and tents. You might need to find a car pool to put a few people in as well - see the rideshare.

Good luck and message me if you want to know about our experience with coming in from o/s.